Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.

Warning, this one's a little steamier than most? I think. I don't know what smut is...

Gale collapses beside her, panting and sweating. Her chest is still heaving and her eyes are closed. There's a smile on her face.

"Still got it," Gale exhales, causing Madge to laugh.

"Still got it," she agrees. Madge turns her head to look at him. "Now get out of my apartment." Gale's smile slips away slightly and she nudges her head toward the door. "You know how this works."

"Christ, Undersee," Gale murmurs as he rolls from her bed. "You can't even let me catch my breath?" She smiles to herself and curls back into her bed and Gale can't help but wish she would cave every once in a while and let him stay the night.

But she's right, he knows how this works. Ever since they broke up eight months ago their deal was sex, and nothing else. Just sex. Because sex was what worked with them. And nothing else.

He gathers his clothes from the floor after disposing of the condom they'd used and exits her apartment without a goodbye. That's how she liked it best.

They hadn't dated that long, about half a year or so, and it just didn't work.

Gale was the one at fault mostly. He'd just gotten into his architecture program in school and it was a lot more work than he'd anticipated. His mind was always elsewhere, to drawing boards and blueprints, and not with Madge.

She tried to make it work. Madge was really good at being patient and explaining that she didn't really feel like she was part of a relationship, but Gale couldn't meet her halfway. And so they ended things.

There wasn't a screaming match, there weren't things being thrown. It was the most amicable breakup Gale Hawthorne had ever been through, in a way that they could still be friends.

But they weren't.

Madge wouldn't look at him anymore, he couldn't even get her to text him back. A couple weeks had passed before they really spoke again and it was only because they ended up being at the same house party. Marvel Douchepants was flirting with Madge in a way that made Gale's stomach churn (because it wasn't as though he wanted to end things with Madge, but if he couldn't make it work he wasn't going to drag her along), so he intervened.

There was a challenge in Madge's eyes that night that he wanted to meet.

And that was how they ended up back at her apartment with Madge on her knees gripping the headboard as he pounded into her.

"This isn't happening," Madge said afterward. Her skin was still flushed. Her hair was a wreck. "We're not getting back together."

Gale licked his lips. They tasted like her. "Who said anything about getting back together?" he murmured.

They both liked the sex.

So they made a deal. No cuddling, no coddling. Once the deed whoever was over would leave. And if at any point there was someone of potential in their life they would end it, because Madge refused any sort of unfaithfulness (or even the risk of it).

And Madge was very good at upholding the deal. She would tell him a week in advance when she was going on a date (only to usually end up in his apartment because of how shitty it went) and be gone the second things were done. Gale never had much of a change to run his hands gently through her hair or remember what things were like before.

It was all teeth and fire. There was no sweetness in their sex. It was always rough, it was always hard. Gale would end up with scratches on his back, Madge would end up with bitemarks down her throat.

That was how they worked.

Until it didn't.

Madge came over one night exhausted but needing him, and she fell asleep the moment they were done. She'd had a long week at school and her parents back home were talking about getting a divorce. Gale felt bad for her. So he let her sleep.

In the morning she woke up curled against him. One of Gale's arms was draped over her hips. Their ankles were twined together. It took her a moment to remember that they weren't together, that this was much too intimate. So she rolled out of bed and collected her things as quickly as she could.

She didn't call him for weeks after that.

But now Gale needs her again. And he hates thinking about it in that sense. That he needs her. Because Madge likes to think of it as he needs sex. Which is partially true, but partially not.

It's the anniversary of his father's death and the only person he wants to be with is Madge. And to be honest, he doesn't even want to have sex. He just wants to hold her and sit there and remember that things can be okay. But he can't tell her that, because she won't allow it.

So Gale dials her number and waits for her to answer. And when she does he jumps right into the questions.

"Have you been seeing someone?" he asks. Madge pauses on the other side. "Is that why you haven't called?"

"No," she answers. "I just haven't called."

Gale sucks his teeth. "So I can come over then?" he asks. Madge hesitates. "Tell me if I can't." Still, she hesitates. Because while she knows what their deal is, she isn't sure she can handle seeing him again. It was only one night of tenderness and familiarity but it was one night too much. It reminded her of how things were before and how badly she misses that side of him. The sex has been great of course, but she misses the sweetness too. "Madge," he rasps.

"I don't–I don't care," she mutters.

"Well if you don't want me to–"

"It's fine," she stops him. "I'll leave the door unlocked."

She hangs up before he can say anything else.

It doesn't take Gale long to arrive at Madge's apartment. He knocks once before entering but the door is unlocked as she promised. She's in the kitchen putting dishes away in her pajamas when he arrives. She has on an old baggy tshirt and some gym shorts and it doesn't look like she's wearing a bra underneath.

"Just let me finish this up," she says. In a way she's hoping she isn't sexy enough for him and maybe he'll lose interest. Not that she isn't interested in having sex, because she wouldn't have said he could come over if she wasn't, she just doesn't know.

Gale leans backwards against the counter and feels his heart twist. "I can help," he murmurs. Before Madge tells him that isn't necessary he strides across the kitchen and pulls the silverware out of the dishwasher.

Madge equates this to him being eager to get started.

Once they're finished she turns to him. "Well," she murmurs, but then pauses. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Gale nods his head. He reaches forward and grabs her hand, gently tugging her toward him. "I just wanted to see you." Her lips part slightly and Gale's eyes drop to watch. "We don't…" he starts, but she stops him.

Madge presses herself up on her toes and cups the back of his head forcing him down to her. Gale groans into the kiss and strides backwards to press her into the counter. If he's not going to be rough than she'll at least try to get his mind there.

But every time she presses forward he eases back slightly to keep their kisses soft and light. "Gale," she parts with a frown. His hand is still on her cheek, his fingertips lightly brushing her skin. "You know how this works," she reminds him.

There's only one way they can be together, and it's not gentle.

"Yeah I know," he whispers. "But–"

"No buts," she stops him. Madge steps backwards, his hand falling to his side. "This didn't…" she starts, but then trails off. "We didn't work, Gale. If you want to fuck me, then fuck me. But anything less than hate sex, or frustration sex, whatever, I can't do that." Gale sucks his teeth and looks away. "That's how this works," she says. "If you can't handle that–"

"I can handle that," Gale growls. He steps back to her and cups her cheeks before kissing her fiercely. Madge gasps into his mouth as he scoops her into his arms. Gale's grip is strong and his calloused hands slip under her shirt. Madge wants it to be rough, to erase any and all signs of thoughtfulness between the two of them like she's just told him, yet still he's careful and she can't say she hates it.

He strides from the kitchen into her bedroom all while kissing her. When he settles on the edge of her bed her legs ease around his waist. His kisses are still fierce but his hands are gentle. "Gale," Madge breathes, and again his kisses slow.

"Shhh," he whispers back. Gale nips at her lips and she rolls her hips against his. "Baby," he groans and pins his forehead to hers.

"Don't call me that," she rasps. His thumbs delicately brush over her cheeks. She wants to protest again, she wants to tell him he can't be this sweet, but part of her craves this and shecan't. He kisses her again, pulling and twisting them at the same time so she can lay back on the bed.

He stretches her out and kisses his way down her neck, nibbling lightly on her collarbone. Madge arches her back and closes her eyes to lose herself to the sensation. "Just this once," he breathes. "It can be like before." Her eyes are still closed and she nods, because no matter how much she hates it she misses their before too.

Gale eases her shirt up and over her head and then continues kissing down her body, over her chest, between her breasts, across her stomach. Madge grips the bed sheets and bites down on her bottom lip to try and keep from moaning. Slowly he works her shorts off of her body and then kisses his way back up, starting at her ankles before moving to her calves, her inner thighs.

Soon her underwear is gone too and Madge is unable to bite back her moans.

Gale sheds his clothes quickly after before climbing into bed with her. Madge is still in a daze when he starts kissing her neck again. "I want you," Madge pants. He smiles into her skin. "Please," she pleads.

It doesn't take Gale long to find a condom and rock his hips against hers. He pants into her chest, their hands finding one another as he moves inside her. Madge locks her legs around his waist and urges him faster, deeper, and Gale groans against her throat.

He wants more. Gale wants her on top crying out his name. He wants to tangle his hands into her hair as she takes him into her mouth. Gale wants to bring her to release one more time. But he's weak and this is so sensual he can't last. Gale buries his sweaty face into her neck and squeezes her close.

Gale groans out her name as he finishes. Together they lay panting. Gale rolls off of her and disposes of the condom before turning on his side. She reaches up then and places her hand on his cheek, pulling him as close as she can. He kisses her sweetly and Madge sighs.

"We can't be like this," she whispers. "It's too… Gale, it's too much for me." Still, he kisses her again and she kisses him back. "I miss you," she forces out. "And you–you don't miss me, not like this, and–" Again he kisses her, this time propping himself up so he can be closer to her.

"I do miss you," he murmurs against her mouth. "I do miss you," Gale repeats weakly. All of her. The early mornings, the stupid fights. He misses her more that he can say. "You said we didn't work, but I–I think we can, Madge, I think we can work." Gale pins his sweaty forehead to hers and searches her eyes for some sort of hope. "We can try again," he whispers. "I want to try again."

"Why?" Madge breathes. "You didn't before." He was the main reason they'd ended things in the first place from him not putting enough energy into the relationship. They sex had worked but that was it. If they really want to work he really has to try. "You were too busy for me."

He shakes his head. "Not anymore. I can do this. I want to do this." Madge gently swings her leg over his waist so she's hovering over him. "Please," he whispers.

Madge hesitates. "Why today?" she asks.

Gale reaches forward and brushes her hair from her face. "Today is not a good day in my history," he murmurs. "And all I could think about was how I wanted to spend it with you." Madge leans in to kiss him and he rolls her again so she's off of him. "I didn't even want–I mean of course I wanted to–I would've been happy to just lay here with you."

Madge gnaws on her bottom lip. She has a nagging feeling that she shouldn't be doing this, but looking into his soft gray eyes that are so sincere she also can't help but hope for the best. "We can do that," she whispers.

Gale smiles, but just barely. "Are you sure?" he asks. "I know the deal."

"We can change the deal." Gale's smile changes into a grin and he nods before leaning in to kiss her another time.

When they wake in the morning they're tangled together again. Gale wakes up first with a heavy feeling in his chest and can't help but wonder if Madge regrets what was said last night. As he moves away to maybe give her space, she snuggles closer.

"Don't even think about it," she mutters.

Gale laughs and bends to kiss her forehead. He could stay like this forever.